Combined beverage carton and imbibing tube



Sept. 14, 1954 w. E. JENKINS COMBINED BEVERAGE CARTON AND IMBIBING TUBE Filed Oct. 17, 1951 W/LL/AM f. JEN/r/A/S INVENTOR A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 14, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED BEVERAGE CARTON AND' I'MBIBING TUBE William E. Jenkins, Dallas, Tex.

Application October 17, 1951, Serial No. 251,710

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to beverage containers and more particularly to beverage containers of the type having incorporated therein a. tube for imbibing the beverage therefrom.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a beverage container or carton, preferably of triangular shape in transverse section and a sipping straw or tube composed of a material unaffected by the contents of the container irrespective of their nature, said tube having a portion depending into the container and a portion exteriorly of the container adapted to be inoperatively disposed within the confines of a flange formed on a cover in sealing engagement with said container, said tube being movable to a position for imbibing the contents of the. container without the necessity of unsealing the latter.

Broadly stated, the invention consists of a container having a cover through which extends an imbibing tube, the latter depending to the bottom of the container and in sealing engagement therewith to preclude passage of liquid through the tube until the said tube has been elevated and moved to an imbibing position.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing herein:

Figure 1 is the top plain view of a beverage container and imbibing tube embodying the invention, showing in dotted lines the tube in imbibing position.

Figure 2 is a top perspective view.

Figure 3 is a vertical section view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the junction between the imbibing tube and container cover.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference numeral I denotes a container of compressed paper or other suitable material and preferably of triangular shape in transverse section. Preference for the triangular shape will become evident as the description proceeds although it is not intended that the container be limited to this particular form. A cover II is provided for the container of the same material as the container and is formed with internal and external flanges I2 and I3 respectively about its edges, the flanges being spaced apart to receive the upper ends of the walls of the container in the manner shown. Similarly, a bottom I4 is provided for the container having internal and external flanges I5 and I6 respectively, between which the lower ible.

ends of the walls of the container are disposed. Aside from the peculiar shape of the container, its bottom and cover, conventional practice is adhered to in its design.

Incorporated in the container is a sipping straw or imbibing tube I'I. This tube is made preferably of plastic material and is semi-flex- The tube is preferably of substantially L shape, a portion I8 extending through an aperture I9 in the cover II and a portion 20 lying inoperatively flush against the outer face of the cover II. The external portion 20 of the tube, in inoperative position of the latter, is disposed against the inner flange 12 of one side of the cover. It is therefore evident that by virtue of the triangular shape of the container, the space to accommodate the portion 20 of the tube is greater in length than would be possible if the container were of any other shape.

In some cases, it is desirable that after the container is filled with beverage, the container be immersed in a suitable sealing liquid such as paraffme to hermetically seal the container. The wax coating is indicated in Figure 4 by reference numeral 2I and is shown as sealing the cover in relation to the container as well as the tube in relation to the cover at the point where the tube extends through the cover, thus to prevent leakage at thi point. In other cases, however, no sealing agent is required.

While inoperatively disposed, the lower end 22 of the tube I1 is in sealing engagement with the bottom I4 of the container, thus to prevent passage of the liquid out of the container through the tube. It is preferred also that the tip of the portion 20 of the tube be enclosed by a cap 23 for sanitary purposes. In some cases it may be desirable to provide a sanitary cover for the entire upper end of the container which may be removed by the consumer who will also lift the imbibing tube to elevate the end 22 thereof above the bottom I4 of the container, which would enable the portion 20 of the tube to be manipulated to a suitable imbibing position, such as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1.

While I have shown a particular preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from my invention and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a beverage carton of triangular cross-section defining three side walls, a bottom and a countersunk cover, an imbibing tube having a portion extending through said cover parallel with one corner of said carton and seated at its inner end in sealing engagement with said bottom and another portion lying on the top of and substantially coextensive with one edge of said cover in inoperative position of said tube, said tube being movable vertically and rotatably to imbibing position to elevate the inner end thereof out of sealing engagement with said bottom and means hermetically sealing said container.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a beverage container having side walls, a bottom and a cover provided with flange about its perimeter, a substantially L-shaped imbibing tube having a first leg depending into said container in sealing engagement with said bottom and the companion leg disposed flush with the top surface of said cover and with the flange on one side of said cover in inoperative position of said tube, said tube being movable vertically to unseal said first leg in relation to said bottom and rotatable to dispose said companion leg in imbibing position.

References Cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,253,579 Deanes Jan. 15, 1918 1,309,994 McAuliffe July 15, 1919 1,680,341 Rosenthal Aug. 14, 1928 1,962,883 Tate et a1. June 12, 1934 2,052,307 Kennedy Aug. 25, 1936 2,150,439 Hamilton Mar. 14, 1939 2,373,340 Rohdin Apr. 10, 1945 2,547,362 Berry Apr. 3, 1951 

